Written Answers Thursday 25 November 2010

Scottish Executive

Allotments

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether terms in leases or missives of let for local authority-owned allotments are exempt from the requirement to have them confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 to give them legal force.

John Swinney: It is for a local authority to decide the terms of leases or missives with its allotment holders. These terms do not require to be confirmed by the Scottish Ministers.

Apprenticeships

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeship places it is supporting in 2010-11.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland (SDS), initially offered 15,000 new apprenticeship places in 2010-11. Through the use of strategic European Social Fund funding, SDS were able to supplement this by an additional 5,000 places as announced by the First Minister in June 2010.

Construction Industry

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage public sector clients in the construction industry to break down large contracts into smaller packages to allow local contractors to tender and how it will introduce carbon footprint criteria into public sector procurement.

John Swinney: In early 2009, as Chair of the Public Procurement Reform Board, I wrote to chief executives and heads of procurement of Scottish public bodies expressing my expectation that all Scottish public bodies follow specific steps to promote small to medium enterprise (SME) involvement in public procurement processes (Bib. number 52114 for the relevant Scottish Procurement Policy note – Six Simple Steps). This included the adoption of the Government's Suppliers Charter ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Procurement/Selling/Supplierscharter2 ) and the use of the Public Contracts Scotland advertising portal ( http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ ). The Scottish Government continues to monitor spend across the public sector with SMEs.

  In terms of carbon footprint criteria, the Scottish Government's Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan (Bib. number 52113), published in October 2009, recommends that full and appropriate consideration should be given to the carbon impact of public sector procurement and that this should be achieved by building carbon-efficient outcomes into the contract specifications at the outset of the procurement process.

Creative Scotland

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the progress of Creative Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: The procedures in place to monitor the progress of Creative Scotland mirror those for all statutory NDPBs. These include measures for public accountability to the Parliament and to ministers through the statutory requirements in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 and in other legislation, along with other guidance.

Cycling

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated for proficiency in cycling.

Stewart Stevenson: As part of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, the Scottish Government has allocated £355,000 this year to Cycling Scotland to support local authorities in delivering cycle training.

Cycling

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage more people to cycle.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is supporting a range of initiatives to encourage people to cycle to work, school and for other journeys. Funding has been available for projects which encourage cycling including extending the National Cycle Network and providing safe routes to schools. Local authorities continue to receive £9m per year for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects. And as part of the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme seven local authority areas have received funding to promote active travel choices, including cycling.

  The Government provides funding to Cycling Scotland to promote cycling through the mass participation ride, Pedal for Scotland, grant schemes for Cycle Friendly Employers, Cycle Friendly Schools and Cycle Friendly Communities. These schemes provide incentives to those who want to cycle.

Cycling

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure better safety for cyclists.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government takes road safety very seriously and is committed to making the roads safer for all road users, including cyclists. Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020, sets out our aims and commitments.

  As part of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, we will increase the number of children who receive on-road cycle training at primary school, we will complete the missing links in the National Cycle Network, providing safe on and off-road routes, and we will continue to work with local authorities to encourage the further roll-out of effective 20 mph schemes in residential areas to reduce speeds.

Cycling

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage local authorities to promote information on cycle routes.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government provides funding to Sustrans and Cycling Scotland to work in partnership with all local authorities to promote cycling on all parts of the National Cycle Network and on local roads. Local authorities also receive funding through the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets grant for promotion of active travel facilities. And as part of the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme seven local authority areas have received funding to promote active travel choices, including cycling.

Cycling

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to provide public information on safety for cyclists.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government already provides public information on cycle safety through Road Safety Scotland and Cycling Scotland road safety campaigns. Also, Cycling Scotland administers the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme which provides skills training and information on how to cycle safely on an on-road setting. And since 2003, Scottish Government funding has been allocated to Sustrans to build and promote safe routes to school to encourage children to travel actively.

Dentistry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) students enrolled on dentistry courses and (b) newly qualified dentists there were in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available. However, NHS Education for Scotland has provided the information in the following table sourced from the Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Dental Schools:

  

Academic Year
Dental School Students 1
Graduates 2


2006-07
754
124


2007-08
775
133


2008-09
815
148


2009-10
Not available
171



  Notes:

  1. Source: Higher Educations Statistics Agency (HESA). Courses coded as pre-clinical dentistry or clinical dentistry with course level at pre-registration degree leading to registration with regulatory body. Includes years 1 to 5 but excludes dormant students and may not include those for whom this is not their main subject. HESA data not available for 2009-10. The data relate to Dundee Dental School, Glasgow Dental School and Aberdeen Dental School.

  2. Source: Scottish dental schools. The first students from Aberdeen Dental School are expected to graduate in 2011-12.

Digital Technology

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Scotland’s rank is among OECD countries in the proportion of its population with access to broadband at up to (a) two, (b) 10 and (c) 100 megabits per second.

Jim Mather: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. We understand that the OECD does not collate this data from individual countries in the UK.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the occupancy rates are for drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment beds outwith the public sector.

Fergus Ewing: Information on the occupancy rates for drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment beds outwith the public sector is not gathered or held centrally.

  The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that a range of treatment and support services are available locally to enable people to recover from their drug problems. We recognise that it is important to gather robust information on the number of people accessing treatment and that is why we are investing in the development of a follow-up reporting system for the Scottish Drugs Misuse Database. This system is currently being rolled-out across Scotland and will allow clients to be tracked through the treatment system and reveal more information on the number of individuals engaging with treatment provision at any given time.

  In addition to this work, the Scottish Drugs Waiting Times Framework also provides information on the number of appointments for new clients offered per quarter in specialist substance misuse treatment services.

  For the first two quarters of 2010 (1 January to 30 June), there were 4,201 offers of appointment for structured preparatory intervention, 2,396 offers of appointment for prescribed drug treatment, 3,893 offers of appointment for community rehabilitation and 356 offers of appointment for residential rehabilitation made across Scotland. It should be noted that not all those offered an appointment may enter treatment and once they are being treated within a service, they may receive different interventions later that are not recorded in the waiting times system.

  Within the Waiting Times Framework, residential detoxification/rehabilitation is defined as detoxification and/or rehabilitation that involves the client being admitted to a residential facility or hospital.

Education

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has to give more control of schools to head teachers.

Michael Russell: Devolving a greater degree of control to head teachers is something that I am keen to support. I will soon be making an announcement for plans on this matter.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36987 by Michael Russell on 11 November 2010, within what budget it aims to keep the set-up costs of the Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency.

Michael Russell: Set up costs will be met from within the Education and Lifelong Learning budget as published in Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12 on 17 November 2010.

Education

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Roman Catholic schools request that parents present a certificate indicating that their child was baptised in a Roman Catholic Church before allowing the child entry to the school and what its position is on this practice.

Keith Brown: The information requested is not collected centrally. Section 28B of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 requires every education authority to publish their admission criteria for schools. It is for the authorities to set out the details and reasonable verification arrangements and the Scottish Government has no locus to intervene in these matters.

Education

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils in Roman Catholic schools has been Roman Catholic in each year since 1997, also broken down by (a) local authority and (b) school.

Keith Brown: This information is not collected centrally.

Education

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils has left school with a higher-level qualification in information technology or a related topic in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Michael Russell: Details are as follows:

  Table 1. Proportion of School Leavers with a Higher Qualification in Information Technology1 Related Subjects, by Local Authority, 2000-01 to 2008-09.

  Data for 2009-10 will not be available until after the publication of post-appeal statistics in March 2011.

  Proportion of Leavers (%)

  

Local Authority
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Aberdeen City
6.9
7.9
6.6
7.3
8.1
7.8
5.6
6.3
6.4


Aberdeenshire
8.0
8.1
10.3
9.0
9.2
8.4
6.3
5.8
6.2


Angus
5.8
5.7
7.1
6.4
5.6
5.6
4.2
4.8
5.7


Argyll and Bute
6.8
5.7
7.6
6.4
4.8
5.1
5.1
4.3
6.6


Clackmannanshire
3.5
4.0
4.5
4.6
5.4
5.1
5.6
4.2
5.7


Dumfries and Galloway
6.0
6.7
6.7
5.5
4.9
4.3
3.8
3.0
4.2


Dundee City
7.8
8.1
7.9
9.2
9.1
8.5
7.6
7.7
8.1


East Ayrshire
8.6
8.2
6.5
8.5
7.5
6.7
5.3
5.3
4.7


East Dunbartonshire
12.3
13.2
13.9
16.5
15.8
12.5
10.7
12.6
12.7


East Lothian
6.1
7.4
7.9
6.9
6.6
6.3
6.1
4.3
7.5


East Renfrewshire
12.2
16.6
15.5
17.0
18.0
13.6
12.7
9.3
10.2


Edinburgh, City of
7.0
7.9
7.4
8.8
8.2
6.8
6.6
7.5
7.4


Eilean Siar
9.0
4.9
8.7
9.9
4.8
6.1
5.2
7.5
6.7


Falkirk
5.3
5.5
6.2
5.6
5.3
3.0
3.8
4.2
4.1


Fife
4.8
5.8
7.0
7.6
7.3
6.0
4.6
5.7
6.2


Glasgow City
4.0
4.3
4.9
5.1
5.3
4.6
4.3
4.5
4.3


Highland
6.4
5.7
6.5
7.4
5.7
5.3
4.5
3.9
4.4


Inverclyde
6.2
7.9
6.2
6.2
7.0
8.0
5.9
4.8
8.3


Midlothian
6.8
6.2
6.8
7.7
7.3
4.7
4.2
6.3
5.9


Moray
8.2
8.7
9.2
7.5
4.6
5.1
5.2
3.9
4.5


North Ayrshire
10.2
12.8
9.9
9.4
10.4
9.7
8.1
6.7
8.9


North Lanarkshire
5.7
6.2
6.2
6.6
6.8
5.8
4.8
5.7
6.1


Orkney Islands
3.9
4.1
3.6
6.8
5.4
1.4
5.2
2.2
3.2


Perth and Kinross
6.5
9.1
8.4
9.2
8.7
9.2
7.9
6.6
8.3


Renfrewshire
7.5
9.3
6.1
10.0
8.9
7.7
5.5
5.3
6.3


Scottish Borders
5.1
5.1
4.8
5.6
4.4
3.7
3.3
4.2
3.8


Shetland Islands
3.7
2.0
6.3
9.9
6.8
1.7
3.9
5.1
7.3


South Ayrshire
9.3
13.3
12.4
9.8
12.3
13.0
12.2
9.2
11.1


South Lanarkshire
7.4
8.8
7.6
8.4
8.9
6.8
6.3
6.5
7.5


Stirling
10.0
8.8
7.9
10.8
11.7
7.4
5.3
5.6
5.9


West Dunbartonshire
6.6
7.4
8.3
7.0
9.3
9.6
5.6
6.9
8.1


West Lothian
6.7
7.7
7.1
8.7
6.3
6.5
5.9
5.8
8.2


Scotland
6.8
7.6
7.5
8.1
7.8
6.8
5.8
5.8
6.5



  Table 2. Proportion of School Leavers with an Advanced Higher Qualification in Information Technology1 Related Subjects in Scotland2, 2000-01 to 2008-09.

  

Year
Proportion of Leavers (%)


2000-01
0.2


2001-02
0.6


2002-03
0.7


2003-04
0.7


2004-05
0.7


2005-06
0.6


2006-07
0.4


2007-08
0.5


2008-09
0.6



  Notes:

  1. Information technology related subjects include, Information Systems, Computing, Computing (new), Computing Studies (new), Computing and Information Technology.

  2. The breakdown for Advanced Highers by local authority is very small.

Education

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what qualifications in information technology or related topics have been available to pupils sitting higher-level exams in each of the last 10 years.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority provides the following information:

  Information Technology Related Qualifications in Scottish Schools at Higher Level (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 6) 2001-20101

  

Qualification
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010


Higher Level Computing
X
X
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Higher Level Information Systems
X
X
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Higher Level Computing (reviewed version)2
 
 
 
X
X
X
X
X
X
X


Higher Level Information Systems (reviewed version)3
 
 
 
X
X
X
X
X
X
X


PC Passport
 
 
 
X
X
X
 
 
 
 


PC Passport (refreshed version)4
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
X
X
X


National Progression Award in Digital Media Production
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
X


National Certificate in Digital Media Computing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
X


National Progression Award in Computer Games Development
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X



  Notes:

  1. Year indicates session. For example, "2002" means session 2002-2003 (August 2002 to June 2003).

  2. Higher Computing was reviewed as part of the NQ review in 2003.

  3. Higher Information Systems was reviewed as part of the NQ Review in 2003.

  4. A refreshed version of PC Passport was introduced in August 2007.

Education

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evidence on the impact of a higher-level qualification in information technology or a related topic on school leavers’ career choices.

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils with a higher-level qualification in information technology or a related topic take up (a) further education, (b) higher education or (c) employment in a related field.

Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally.

Education Maintenance Allowances

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are in receipt of Educational Maintenance Allowance in 2010-11, broken down by Scottish Parliament (a) constituency and (b) region.

Keith Brown: Information on the number of students on the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme in the 2009-10 academic year will be published by the Scottish Government on 15 December 2010. Figures for the EMA scheme in 2010-11 will not be available until 2011.

Education Maintenance Allowances

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the findings of its review of Educational Maintenance Allowance.

Keith Brown: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced in the draft budget statement on 17 November 2010 plans to continue the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme, consistent with the Scottish Government’s commitment to support the least well off students in Scotland and open up opportunities for poorer families.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women are employed by each local authority, expressed as a percentage of employees.

John Swinney: The information requested is set out in the table below. Part (a) shows what percentage of each local authority’s headcount are women.

  Table 1: Headcount of Women Employees as a Percentage of All Employees by Local Authority, Q2 2010

  

Local Authority
Percentage of All Employees


Aberdeen
70.2%


Aberdeenshire
76.2%


Angus
73.6%


Argyll and Bute
70.8%


Clackmannanshire
71.3%


Dumfries and Galloway
72.5%


Dundee City
64.7%


East Ayrshire
70.8%


East Dunbartonshire
71.9%


East Lothian
70.3%


East Renfrewshire
72.8%


Edinburgh City of
66.1%


Eilean Siar
74.6%


Falkirk
70.9%


Fife
70.3%


Glasgow City
66.6%


Highland
72.6%


Inverclyde
73.5%


Midlothian
69.7%


Moray
72.5%


North Ayrshire
72.5%


North Lanarkshire
74.3%


Orkney Islands
69.0%


Perth and Kinross
71.3%


Renfrewshire
71.6%


Scottish Borders
70.4%


Shetland Islands
73.7%


South Ayrshire
70.2%


South Lanarkshire
69.0%


Stirling
70.8%


West Dunbartonshire
69.7%


West Lothian
69.9%



  Note: Figures based on total headcount (includes both full-time and part-time employees).

  Source: Joint Staffing Watch Survey (Q2 2010), not seasonally adjusted.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many private sector jobs have been created in Dundee and how many of these were full-time in each of the last three years for which information is available.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

  Using the Annual Population Survey, the change in the level of private sector jobs can be estimated. This shows that within Dundee City:

  between 2007 and 2008, there was a net reduction in private sector jobs of 200, of which all were full-time;

  between 2008 and 2009, there was a net reduction in private sector jobs of 1,100, of which 800 were full-time;

  between 2009 and 2010, there was a net reduction in private sector jobs of 300, of which 100 were full-time.

  Source: Annual Population Survey, April to March datasets, ONS.

  Notes:

  1. Data rounded to nearest hundred.

  2. As data is based on sample survey, the changes may not be statistically significant.

Enterprise

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is to create special enterprise zone status in Moray.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is supporting the efforts of the Moray Task Force to develop an economic action plan for the area, and we are actively looking at what incentives can be put in place in Moray to encourage new businesses to locate in the area and to encourage the development of existing businesses. The timescale and shape of this response is, of course, dependent on decisions made by the UK Government.

  The immediate priority of the Moray Task Force and the Scottish Government remains to present a strong argument to the UK Government as to why the RAF presence should be retained. The Scottish Government has made it clear that we will do all that we can to support the community in Moray but we will continue to press the UK Government to recognise its responsibilities.

Enterprise

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that corporate purchasers and consumers are able to identify and support Scotland-based companies trading online.

Jim Mather: Although a reserved matter, the Scottish Government actively supports companies with national pre-eminence in their sector who seek to use "Scottish" or equivalents in their company name.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the future of the Sustainable Development Commission Scotland.

Mr Richard Lochhead: Following the United Kingdom Government's decision to withdraw funding from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), the Scottish Government has considered the options for the way forward in Scotland. We have valued the SDC’s work promoting and advising on sustainable development and providing independent scrutiny.

  Given the challenges we face on public expenditure and the UK Government’s decision to withdraw support, the Scottish Government is announcing a package of measures today which seek to streamline provision while continuing to provide strong leadership and capacity in relation to sustainability. These are designed to ensure our purpose of enabling Scotland to flourish through sustainable economic growth continues to be central going forward.

  Firstly, we have decided to cease funding the SDC at the end of March 2011. However we are concerned to protect the functions where we feel the SDC adds the most value as follows.

  We attach importance to promotion of behaviour change and building capacity for sustainability delivery. We therefore intend to continue funding the work of the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum which is currently hosted by SDC. The Scottish Government is also taking forward work in the area of behaviour change and building capacity, including through our forthcoming Climate Change Public Engagement Strategy. I am pleased to announce that we also intend to transfer work in relation to sharing good practice and building capacity among communities across Scotland delivering projects through the Climate Challenge Fund. The detailed transfer and staffing arrangements required will be the subject of discussion.

  We do not intend to continue SDC’s sustainability advisory role. Instead, we will rely on sustainability advice from Scottish Government officials and statutory agencies, and through external procurement from time to time. We will continue to engage with those with sustainability expertise in Scotland, notably voluntary organisations. In particular, the high level group Sustainable Scotland brings together key leaders from the public, business and voluntary sectors to focus collectively on the key sustainability issues Scotland faces, including a degree of challenge to Government.

  We do not intend to continue SDC Scotland’s sustainability scrutiny role. We believe arrangements can be streamlined going forward while continuing to be robust. There have been some significant developments since the SDC was established.

  In particular:

  The Scottish Parliament and its Committees scrutinise Scottish Government policy across the board, including sustainability. We are pleased to note the work being undertaken at present in the Scottish Parliament to support the scrutiny of sustainability.

  Audit Scotland has powers to audit and report in public on how the Scottish Government and public bodies are responding to the sustainability agenda. Its focus is on performance and leadership rather than policy making. It has recently updated its capacity and procedures in this area with help from the SDC, putting in place a best value sustainable development toolkit for local authorities, public bodies and its auditors. It is just starting a performance audit of how the Scottish Government manages climate change work.

  The UK Committee on Climate Change now has an important role in reviewing our progress towards achieving statutory emissions reduction targets.

  Environmental voluntary organisations work in a variety of ways to hold the Scottish Government to account for particular aspects of sustainability policy, including through regular meetings with ministers.

  Clearer Scottish Government reporting of our actions is proposed in response to the new climate change and sustainability duties on government and public bodies.

  Several of the above have come into place or been strengthened since SDC's annual assessments began in 2007. The UK Committee on Climate Change has been established; Audit Scotland has updated its capacity; and the public sector duties on climate change and sustainability have been put in place. Environmental non-governmental organisations have increased their own focus on sustainability and climate change policy.

  Discontinuing SDC scrutiny is also in line with our approach, following the Crerar Review, of avoiding duplication of scrutiny functions and developing increasingly robust and transparent evaluation of performance.

  We attach high priority to a sustainable future for Scotland. As part of the spending plans we announced on 17 November 2010, we have made substantial resources of £15.3 million available to support the Sustainable Action Fund for 2011-12. We also announced our commitment to community-led action on climate change and sustainable development by increasing the Climate Challenge Fund component of those funds to £10.3 million. This demonstrates the Scottish Government’s determination to ensuring sustainability remains at the heart of our purpose.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to transfer vessels deployed on the NorthLink Ferries services to run on services operated by CalMac Ferries or vice versa.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to transfer vessels between the two ferry networks.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered transferring vessels deployed on the NorthLink Ferries to run on services operated by CalMac Ferries, or vice versa, since 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: The optimum deployment of the ferry fleet available to Scottish Ministers is an important part of effective delivery of ferry services.

Food

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that corporate purchasers and consumers are able to identify and support produce that is (a) Scottish or (b) locally sourced.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government launched the Provenance on a Plate website in March 2010. This is a toolkit that includes advice and guidance to Scottish caterers on how to bring out the origin and provenance of the food and drink on their menus.

  The Food Standards Agency (Scotland) was asked by the Scottish Government to produce simple and understandable origin labelling guidance to consumers. The Consumer Guide to Country of Origin Information on Food Labels provides consumers with the information needed to make informed decisions about the food and drink they purchase at retailers. This was launched in June 2010.

  We also have a number of Scottish products registered under the EU Protected Food Names Scheme, including Scotch beef and Arbroath smokies. We continue to support producers to apply to protect more of our iconic Scottish produce.

  The Scottish Government continues to press for mandatory origin labelling for food and drink products important to Scotland in the ongoing negotiations on the EU Provision of Food Information to Consumers Regulation.

  We have also worked with the Scotch whisky industry to ensure that it is given the best possible protection in domestic and overseas markets. That is why regulations came into force in November 2009 to protect Scotch whisky's geographical indication (GI) of provenance. For example, the First Minister welcomed earlier in November 2010 the announcement that Scotch whisky has been given GI in China.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will protect funding for new tree planting to meet its target of 7,500 hectares of new trees in the next 12 months, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Forestry in the Low Carbon Economy conference on 2 June 2010.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement of the draft budget for 2011-12, how the planting of extra hectares of trees required to meet the target of 100 million trees by 2015 will be financed.

Roseanna Cunningham: Our woodland creation targets are mainly achieved through grant support under the Scotland Rural Development Programme and some direct planting undertaken by Forestry Commission Scotland. The 2011-12 Draft Budget provides sufficient funding to meet our targets and we have actually increased grants available for forestry by £8.9 million to £36 million.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to reach its target of planting 100 million trees by 2015, which is equivalent to planting 10,000 hectares of trees per year.

Roseanna Cunningham: Our woodland creation targets are mainly achieved through grant support under the Scotland Rural Development Programme and some direct planting undertaken by Forestry Commission Scotland. The 2011-12 Draft Budget provides sufficient funding to meet our targets and we have actually increased grants available for forestry by £8.9 million to £36 million.

  We are only part way through the first year of the Scottish Government pledge to plant 100 million trees by 2015 and we have already approved plans for 10,800 hectares of planting by the private sector which, when added to Forestry Commission Scotland’s plans, amount to over 25 million trees.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it will meet its target of planting 100 million trees by 2015, given that the number of trees planted annually since 2007 is estimated at 6.7 million.

Roseanna Cunningham: We are only part way through the first year of the Scottish Government pledge to plant 100 million trees by 2015 and we have already approved plans for over 25 million trees.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise carried out all appropriate financial checks and adhered to set procedures with regard to Rok prior to offering it sole contractor status.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Inter-Governmental Links

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with ministers of the Government of the Republic of Ireland on the benefits of membership of the Euro.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with ministers of the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding membership of the Euro.

NHS Boards

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has spent on administration in each year since 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: Due to changes in the way that administration costs have been collected, the figures between the two years are not directly comparable. The main change relates to the inclusion in 2008-09 of the administrative costs of the board’s health promotion and health education functions which previously were excluded.

  The NHS costs book records administration costs for all territorial boards plus the National Waiting Times Centre and the State Hospital for Scotland. Spend on administration for these boards since 2007 has been:

  

NHS Board
2008-09
2007-08


 
£000
£000


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
53,498
51,752


NHS Borders
15,496
16,610


State Hospital
5,396
4,624


National Waiting Times Centre
7,156
6,421


NHS Fife
39,778
39,005


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
187,072
176,577


NHS Highland
40,644
39,367


NHS Lanarkshire
72,134
75,083


NHS Grampian
56,498
59,873


NHS Orkney
3,947
4,248


NHS Lothian
93,809
80,830


NHS Tayside
62,011
58,210


NHS Forth Valley
31,322
30,222


NHS Western Isles
6,539
5,534


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
18,429
18,174


NHS Shetland
3,789
3,722


Scotland
697,518
670,253



  Figures for 2009-10 will be available at the end of November 2010.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts have been made to secure patient feedback on the standard of meals served at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill); what such patient feedback has shown; what lessons have been learned, and how patient satisfaction levels compare with those at other NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board catering surveys are issued to all patients and they are analysed on a regular basis. The board monitors the patient views of catering services in a number of ways e.g., through the clinical quality indicators (CQIs) framework, food tasting audits and an instant feedback mechanism called "how are we doing?" Catering Supervisors monitor all these comments on a regular basis.

  Catering services have continually adapted menu formats on the basis of patient and parent comments received, and also based on observation of particular dish uptake and associated waste should specific dishes be unpopular.

  Previous catering satisfaction surveys circulated have generated a relatively low percentage response rate (last circulation returned 34% of surveys issued) compared with a 57% overall board return. Overall, 90% of patients rated the Yorkhill catering service as good compared to 84% for the overall board response (board response based on average of all sites). It is intended to issue the 2010 catering survey in child suitable formats, acknowledging the age ranges of patients.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37265 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 November 2010, when it will decide on the number of new entrants to trainee nursing programmes for 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: The intake targets for nursing and midwifery students for 2011-12 will be notified to the Scottish Funding Council in December 2010.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37268 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 November 2010, when it will decide on the number of new entrants to foundation training programmes for trainee doctors for 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of new entrants to the foundation training programme for 2011-12 will be decided shortly.

National Health Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were advised that they were unable to make a complaint about the NHS on the basis that they did not have a statutory right, in each of the last 10 years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The existing "right to complain" is not set out in primary legislation. However, anyone making a formal complaint about NHS care or services in the last ten years was entitled to have their representations investigated by the relevant NHS body provider under the NHS complaints procedure. Guidance is available at:  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/App_Download/pdf/1guidance010405.pdf

  The "statutory right" included in the Patient Rights Bill will help to give patients the confidence that it is appropriate to exercise this right.

Post Offices

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have arrangements with the post office network whereby people can pay (a) council house rent and (b) council tax at post offices.

Jim Mather: With the following exceptions, all of Scotland’s local authorities allow the payment of both council house rent and council tax to be made at post offices. The exceptions are: Orkney, with no facilities to pay either council house rent or council tax at post offices; and Clackmannanshire, with no facilities to pay council tax at post offices. It is possible, however, to pay council housing rent in Clackmannanshire at post offices.

Post Offices

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities to encourage them to work in partnership with the post office network to allow people to pay (a) council house rent and (b) council tax at post offices.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not issued guidance. The methods available for the payment for council house rent and council tax are for local authorities to determine. However, all councils offer a wide range of methods for the payment of council tax and council house rent. This includes, in the vast majority of councils, the ability to pay these charges at post offices.

Post Offices

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Post Office Ltd on the expansion of services available at local post offices, in light of the impact on small rural communities.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government officials meet Royal Mail Group Scottish representatives on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including services available at post offices. They last met on 17 November 2010.

Post Offices

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss the operation of post office services, in light of their impact on small rural communities.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not met the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss this issue.

Post Offices

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates and agencies have contracts with Post Office Ltd and what the annual value is.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not have any contracts with Post Office Limited.

Post Offices

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the post office network, in light of its impact on small rural communities.

Jim Mather: I wrote on 16 June 2010 to Ed Davey MP, the UK Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, following his appointment. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52109).

  I wrote on 1 November 2010 to Vince Cable MP, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, following the publication of the Postal Services Bill. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52110).

  I wrote on 22 November 2010 to Ed Davey concerning the UK Government’s statement on the future of the post office network. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52111).

  In all of these letters I emphasised the importance of post offices to communities and local economies across Scotland, especially in rural areas.

Prescription Charges

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions were issued by (a) Dundee and (b) Angus Community Health Partnership in each year since 2006-07 and what percentage was free.

Shona Robison: Information is not held centrally on the number of prescriptions issued, only on prescription items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors. These data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals and hospital-based clinics.

  The table below shows the number of items dispensed and the percentage of items dispensed free of charge in the Dundee and Angus Community Health Partnerships in each year since 2006-2007.

  Dundee Community Health Partnership

  

Financial Year
Number of Dispensed Items
Percentage Free-of-Charge


2006-07
2,338,661
89.2%


2007-08
2,393,230
89.1%


2008-09
2,487,850
89.3%


2009-10
2,556,693
89.4%



  Angus Community Health Partnership

  

Financial Year
Number of Dispensed Items
Percentage Free-of-Charge


2006-07
1,688,760
87.5%


2007-08
1,702,734
87.5%


2008-09
1,770,971
88.0%


2009-10
1,850,842
88.4%



  Notes:

  Data on the percentage of prescribed items dispensed free of charge is derived using the patient exemption check boxes on the back of the prescription form. These data exclude items written on minor ailment service or stock order forms.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on prescribing can be found at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing.

Prescription Charges

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions have been issued for cancer-related treatment in (a) Scotland and (b) NHS Tayside in each year since 2007-08, and what the gross cost was of dispensing these.

Shona Robison: Information is not held centrally on the number of prescriptions issued, only on prescription items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors. These data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals and hospital-based clinics.

  The information in the table shows drugs in sections 8.1, 8.2.3, 8.3.1, 8.3.2 and 8.3.4 of the British National Formulary which lists products indicated for use in the treatment of cancer. Some of the products listed can be used in the treatment of other conditions and it is not possible to identify from the prescription form why a particular drug was prescribed. In addition, there will be other drugs used in the treatment of cancer, for example, analgesics for pain, steroids as adjunct therapy and some prescribing of these drugs will be for reasons other than cancer.

  NHS Tayside

  

Financial Year
Number of Dispensed Items
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)*


2007-08
14,784
1,530,848


2008-09
15,206
1,576,926


2009-10
15,440
1,522,317



  Scotland

  

Financial Year
Number of Dispensed Items
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)*


2007-08
209,453
22,780,691


2008-09
214,560
24,013,151


2009-10
220,793
22,140,699



  Note: *Gross ingredient cost is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It excludes adjustments and any dispensing or broken bulk fees.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on prescribing can be found at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing.

Prison Service

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned annual expenditure on HMP Inverclyde will be over each year of the projected time span of the construction period.

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned expenditure on HMP Inverclyde will be financed from the capital budget of the Scottish Prison Service.

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned completion dates are for each phase of HMP Inverclyde.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is committed to building HMP Inverclyde as a replacement for HMP Greenock. The SPS and Inverclyde Council have reached agreement regarding the sale of a site for this development.

  Subject to planning permission being granted in early 2011, SPS will prepare for the procurement process to commence in advance of the site being vacated by Inverclyde Council in 2013-14. The construction period is expected to be around 18 to 24 months. The project, which will be funded from the SPS capital budget, is expected to cost around £80 million – actual cost will depend on the market conditions prevailing at the time that bids are submitted. The distribution of expenditure between financial years will depend on the timing of planning permission, award of contract and the contractual works programme. No substantive expenditure is planned for HMP Inverclyde in 2011-12.

  SPS lodged an application for planning permission with Inverclyde Council on 27 October 2010.

Prison Service

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned annual expenditure on HMP Highland will be over the projected time span of the construction period.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned expenditure on HMP Highland will be financed from the capital budget of the Scottish Prison Service.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned completion dates are for each phase of the construction of HMP Highland.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is committed to building HMP Highland as a replacement for HMP Inverness. The SPS is currently seeking a site for this development.

  Timing and phasing of expenditure is subject to SPS acquiring a suitable site and securing planning permission. The construction period is expected to be around 18 to 24 months. The project, which is expected to be funded from the SPS capital budget, is expected to cost around £60 million – actual cost will depend on the market conditions prevailing at the time that bids are submitted. The distribution of expenditure between financial years will depend on the timing of planning permission, availability of the site, award of contract and the contractual works programme. No substantive expenditure is planned for HMP Highland in 2011-12.

Public Bodies

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the extent to which public bodies use information technology to enhance public access and accountability on the part of (a) boards of management and (b) executive officers.

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to public bodies on the use of information technology to enhance public access and accountability on the part of (a) boards of management and (b) executive officers.

John Swinney: Public bodies are responsible for managing their own business systems and processes. This includes determining the most effective use of information and communications technology in accordance with any relevant obligations, including openness, accountability and the duty of best value.

Public Bodies

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring that public bodies provide best value.

John Swinney: Since April 2002, there has been a duty of best value on accountable officers to "ensure arrangements are in place to secure best value". Compliance with the duty of best value is an auditable requirement for public bodies under section 22(1)(c) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. The organisation’s auditors will typically audit performance alongside its finances. Audit Scotland set out its approach in the leaflet Auditing Best Value in central government bodies which is available on the Audit Scotland website at: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/corp/2009/bv_audit_best_value_central_gov.pdf

  Guidance about best value in public bodies was issued in 2003 and revised in 2006. In May 2009, Officials wrote to all chief executives of agencies, non-departmental public bodies, non-ministerial departments and public corporations reminding them of the specific duty on accountable officers to ensure that arrangements are in place to secure best value. A small reference group, the Best Value Reference Group, was also formed.

  The Best Value Reference Group is currently refreshing the guidance on the duty of best value for public bodies. The group also worked closely with Audit Scotland on the development of its 18 best value toolkits. These toolkits are used by Audit Scotland auditors during the annual financial audit of a public body. The toolkits were published in August 2010 and are available on the Audit Scotland website at: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/work/toolkits/.

Public Bodies

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the extension to all public bodies of a statutory duty to deliver best value.

John Swinney: Under the terms of the Public Finance and Accountability Scotland Act 2000 all accountable officers of the Scottish administration and of public bodies are under a specific duty to ensure that arrangements are in place to secure best value. As public bodies are accountable to ministers, and through ministers to the Parliament, the Scottish Government does not consider it necessary to apply an express statutory duty to public bodies in respect of best value.

  Compliance with the duty of best value is an auditable requirement for public bodies under section 22(1)(c) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. Audit Scotland set out its approach in the leaflet Auditing Best Value in central government bodies which is available on the Audit Scotland website at: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/corp/2009/bv_audit_best_value_central_gov.pdf

  Scottish ministers are clear that best value is a powerful tool for improving performance and accountability across the public sector, including local government, central government and public bodies.

Public Sector Staff

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many food technologists were employed in the public sector in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009 and are employed currently.

John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Public Sector Staff

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many environmental health officers there were in each local authority area in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009 and are in 2010.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. Staffing and workforce planning are matters for local authorities to manage.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what rail passenger numbers have been in each year since 2006 and what information it has on how this compares with each (a) other part of the United Kingdom, (b) EU member state and (c) OECD country.

Stewart Stevenson: Comparisons of rail passenger numbers in Scotland and Great Britain are published in the Scottish Government’s Main Transport Trends 2010 publication (Tables SGB1– SGB3). A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52059).

  Comparisons of rail passenger kilometres in Scotland with EU and OECD countries can be found in the Scottish Government’s Scottish Transport Statistics 2009 publication (Table 13.1). A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50075).

Rail Network

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for the completion of the Borders Railway of reports that only two contractors remain on the shortlist for construction of the line.

Stewart Stevenson: The Borders Railway project remains on programme with two very strong international consortia involved in the Borders Railway procurement discussions. The Scottish Government remains confident that the procurement will result in a quality project that is good value for money.

Rail Network

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it expects work on the Borders Railway to be completed.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27487 on 25 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Rail Network

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects work to begin on construction of the Borders Railway.

Stewart Stevenson: Construction of the first of the authorised works defined by the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 commenced on 3 March 2010.

Rail Network

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the benefits for communities in Midlothian will be of the Borders Railway when it is completed.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the Borders Railway project website where details of the benefits the railway will bring to communities can be found at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/projects/borders-railway/benefits.

Rail Network

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans for improvements on the Highland main line include consideration of the reopening of Blackford Station.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has assessed proposals for reopening Blackford Station in the context of our investment hierarchy which commits us to making best use of the existing network before investing in new stations.

  We have no plans to include the re-opening of Blackford Station as part of the Highland Main Line project. This is due to its close proximity to Gleneagles Station and the adverse impact it would have on the objectives of reduced journey times and increased frequency of services.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional jobs have been created by the work associated with the construction of the Airdrie-Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: During the peak construction activity around 900 jobs were created. In addition, First ScotRail has announced 130 permanent posts associated with the new Airdrie-Bathgate railway.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional jobs have been created by the work associated with the construction of Laurencekirk railway station.

Stewart Stevenson: During the construction of Laurencekirk Station around 50 staff were involved on site with this project.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37092 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 November 2010, whether it will provide a breakdown of the rail infrastructure and other transport programmes investment by (a) type of investment and (b) project.

Stewart Stevenson: The breakdown of the rail infrastructure and other transport programmes investment budgets by (a) type of investment and (b) project is shown below.

  (a) The rail infrastructure represents the network grant which the Office of Rail Regulation judged was necessary to fund Network Rail for renewals, enhancements, maintenance and operating expenditure in Scotland. Network Rail’s income is principally recovered through track access charges paid by passenger and freight operators, station access charges, and network grants paid by the Department for Transport and the Scottish Government to Network Rail in lieu of access charges.

  

Description
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


 
£ million
£ million
£ million
£ million


Rail Infrastructure
357.90
366.50
382.70
364.30



  (b) The budget for major public transport projects is not allocated across individual projects. It funded specific commitments including the Waverley Station redevelopment, the Stirling–Alloa–Kincardine link and our contribution to the Edinburgh trams project.

  

Description
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


 
£ million
£ million
£ million
£ million


Other Transport Programmes
158.00
264.70 
157.70
171.86

Rail Services

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been in passenger numbers for each station on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow rail line since the introduction of a half-hourly rail service.

Mr Stewart Stevenson: Based on comparison of one-off ScotRail passenger counts conducted in March 2009 and March 2010, after introduction of the half-hourly service in December 2009, there have been the following changes in passenger numbers of each station on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow rail line:

  

Weekday
% Difference.


Glasgow Central
55


Crossmyloof
70


Pollokshaws West
2


Kennishead
44


Priesthill and Darnley
N/A


Nitshill
12


Barrhead
18


Dunlop
93


Stewarton
116


Kilmaurs
141


Kilmarnock
204

Roads

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what road construction, improvement or maintenance projects have been undertaken using the design, build, finance and operate model in each year since 1999; what the cost of each was, and what contractors were involved in each project.

Stewart Stevenson: Two design, build, finance and operate road projects have been undertaken since 1999. The first is the M77/Glasgow Southern Orbital contract which was awarded to Connect M77/GSO Plc, a consortium owned by Balfour Beatty Capital Projects Limited, at a cost of £123 million (net present value) and opened to traffic on 28 April 2005. The second is the M80 Stepps to Haggs contract which was awarded on 16 January 2009 to Highway Management (Scotland) Limited, a consortium of Bilfinger Berger, Grahams and Northstone at a cost of £322 million (net present value).

  The net present value of these projects includes the construction, maintenance and operation costs over the 30 year concession period.

Roads

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Raith Interchange upgrade will be completed.

Stewart Stevenson: As announced in the budget statement on 17 November 2010, the M74 Junction 5, Raith scheme will be taken forward as part of a non-profit distributing contract with the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse and M8, M73, M74 Network Improvements schemes.

  Subject to a successful outcome of the public local inquiry of the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme (including parliamentary approval) and the successful completion of the statutory procedures for all three schemes including the making of the orders, procurement is programmed to start in 2011-12. A thorough review of the project will be carried out before any more definitive timetable can be issued.

Scottish Government Finance

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its administrative costs have been in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: The Scottish Executive’s administration outturn costs since 1999 are shown below:

  

Year Ended 31 March
Resource
Capital
Total –Cash Terms
Total – Constant 2009-10 Prices


 
£ million
£ million
£ million
£ million


1999
202
12
214
279


2000
171
20
191
244


2001
194
10
204
257


2002
187
18
205
253


2003
196
10
206
246


2004
214
11
225
262


2005
231
15
246
278


2006
246
15
261
290


2007
239
14
253
272


2008
251
14
265
277


2009
234
16
250
254


2010
261
15
276
276



  Note: Structural changes that have taken place over the period affect any year on year comparison. For example the Scottish Government has absorbed activities from a number of bodies transferring into the core Scottish Government as part of the simplification of the public sector landscape (such as parts of Communities Scotland, and the Fisheries Research Service and Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency). There have also been significant new initiatives launched over that period such as the Public Procurement Reform programme.

Scottish Government Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its projected underspend is for 2010-11.

John Swinney: The expenditure is being closely monitored and managed so that there will be a very small underspend by the end of the financial year, in line with recent performance. HM Treasury has advised that it has abolished the existing end year flexibility arrangements. This means that we will not be allowed to carry forward any underspend from 2010-11 to a future financial year.

  This will be after our budget for 2010-11 has been reduced by the sum we are planning to carry forward to 2011-12 to support the capital programme in that year.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will reduce the budget for Marine Scotland from £62.4 million in 2010-11 to £55.9 million in 2011-12, as reported in table 11.05 on page 177 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12 .

John Swinney: The reduction in Marine Scotland’s budget will be managed through a programme of initiatives which will both maximise efficiencies and deliver significant savings, these include:

  Realigning some activities which were previously provided without charge, primarily commercial survey charters and support for studies and gear trials. Priority research programmes will be maintained through the scheduling of government vessels and a consensual approach to research priorities through an increased dialogue with stakeholder groups. Marine Scotland officials will be talking to stakeholders about how best to implement these changes in a way that protects the delivery of key priorities;

  Being more efficient in data collection and handling in implementing marine legislation by making more use of existing data and less use of marine surveys;

  Paying particular attention to the efficient use of expensive infrastructure to ensure that we extract maximum value. Marine Scotland has already decommissioned a Compliance protection vessel; brought in-house the day to day management of Science vessels; is engaged in detailed discussions with partner organisations about better utilisation of government owned assets, including ships and aircraft, and is actively assessing the regional estate requirements going forward;

  Reducing administrative costs through a staff early release scheme; making other cost savings including travel and subsistence and procurement, and increasing charges for marine licences.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will reduce the budget for Scottish Natural Heritage from £67.9 million in 2010-11 to £60.7 million in 2011-12, as reported in table 11.06 on page 178 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12 .

Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage has been preparing for a reduction in its grant in aid in 2011-12 by undertaking a review of how it delivers smarter programmes by reshaping the organisation and reducing its senior management structure to become a smaller, more effective, efficient and influential public body.

  Scottish Natural Heritage must determine how it will meet its statutory responsibilities and key priorities in the most cost-effective way. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the organisation to ensure it is adequately resourced to deliver its statutory duties and that the natural environment continues to provide the ecosystem services which underpin much of Scotland’s sustainable economic activity.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the projected outturn efficiency reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 for Rural Payments and Inspection is £nil as compared with the published planned efficiency of £2.2 million.

John Swinney: The efficiency target of £2.2 million represented a reduction of over 5% on administration costs for the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID). It was originally set on the basis of there being a business transformation programme which would realise significant efficiencies. This programme was not in place for 2009-10. In fact in this year, RPID was unable to reduce its administration costs because of three main pressures.

  The first was the ongoing cost of implementing the business processes and systems required for the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), which was a much more complex task than originally estimated; the second was the increase in the number of SRDP applications and claims; and the third was the extra effort required to support the increased levels of audit and scrutiny applied by the European Commission and the European Court of Auditors.

  Although RPID was unable to reduce its administration costs for 2009-10 and thus realise the planned efficiency savings, it was able to deliver an increased volume of output with no material detriment to the quality or quantity of the services provided.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the projected outturn efficiency reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 for Marine Scotland is £1.51 million as compared with the published planned efficiency of £2.172 million.

Richard Lochhead: In the Efficient Government Programme 2008-11 Marine Scotland’s predecessor bodies were set the following targets:

  

Year
Target (£ million)
Outturn (£ million)


2008-09
3.159
3.653


2009-10
2.172
1.51


2010-11
3.258
 



  Marine Scotland was created on 1 April 2009. The target figure in 2008-09 was exceeded by £0.494 million, and fell short by £0.662 million in 2009-10 giving a net shortfall over the two years of £0.168 million. The shortfall was largely related to the transition from the previous structural arrangements to create Marine Scotland. Some structural changes, which will generate significant efficiencies, have a lead time and are taking place in the second year of Marine Scotland. The expectation is that Marine Scotland will achieve the efficiency savings target over the life of the Efficient Government Programme.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the projected outturn efficiency reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 for the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum is £0.032 million as compared with the published planned efficiency of £0.04 million.

Richard Lochhead: The efficiency savings for the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum (SSDF) were originally estimated at £0.04 million. In reviewing the secretariat function and event costs for the SSDF annual savings of £0.032 million have been made. To ensure the delivery of SSDF business plan further efficiency savings were not possible.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £0.284 million by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Park Authority reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority has achieved outturn efficiency savings of £0.284 million for 2009-10 through a combination of measures, as shown in the table below:

  

Categories
Measures Taken
Savings Achieved (£ million)


Shared Services
Gateway Centre shared with two other operators.
0.088


Asset Management
Gateway Centre managed by a third party
0.196


Total
0.284

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £0.245 million by the Cairngorms National Park Authority reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Cairngorms National Park Authority has achieved outturn efficiency savings of £0.245 million for 2009-10 as shown in the following table:

  

Measures Taken
Efficiencies Achieved (£ million)


Staffing – salaries and oncosts
 0.085


Staffing – training and other non-salary
 0.031


Estates – lease termination
 0.015


Office running costs
 0.025


Information and communications technology
 0.086


Professional Services – reduction internal audit cost
 0.003


Total 
 0.245

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £0.074 million by the Deer Commission for Scotland reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Deer Commission for Scotland’s outturn efficiency of £0.074 million in 2009-10, comprising recurring savings, was achieved through   decreased accommodation costs associated with its co-location with Scottish Natural Heritage in Great Glen House.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £3.071 million by Scottish Natural Heritage reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) outturn efficiency of £3.071 million for 2009-10, comprising both recurring and non-recurring savings, was achieved as follows:

  

Categories
Measures Taken
Cash-Releasing Efficiencies (£ million)


Shared Services
Implementing Scotland's Environment and Rural Services Frontline Delivery project.
0.001


Asset Management
Primarily the disposal of surplus freehold and leasehold property in Edinburgh and Oban.
0.460


Procurement 
Primarily a change in pension provider and internet security software contracts.
0.043


Other Initiatives
Primarily vacancy management and efficient staff utilisation,  reviews of landline and mobile telephone usage and increasing on-line publishing on SNH’s website.
2.567



  SNH also achieved time-releasing efficiencies of £0.233 million for 2009-10 by implementing: a new database to help with site condition monitoring; a new HR management information system; and, the final phase of a project to improve SNH’s recruitment process.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £0.094 million by Veterinary Surveillance reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Richard Lochhead: An outturn efficiency of £0.094 million was achieved by The Scottish Agricultural College, which delivers veterinary surveillance functions in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, by a combination of more efficient work and energy cost savings.

  Staff cost savings of £0.064 million have been achieved through the loss of three positions that had become vacant and have not been filled.

  An additional £0.030 million saving in fuel costs has been achieved through the investment in new, more efficient boilers in three of the eight veterinary investigation centres in Scotland.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £4.046 million by Scottish Environment Protection Agency reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency achieved cash releasing efficiency savings of £4.046 million for 2009-10 by improving the way it delivered services, without material detriment to the quality of the services provided. Efficiency savings were achieved as follows.

  

Measures Taken
Efficiencies Achieved 
(£ million)


Implementing more efficient working practices, absorption of new work and re-engineering of service delivery.
2.082


Reduction in property maintenance and property improvement projects.
0.618


Reduction in procurement and increased in-house training.
1.023


Reduction in travel costs.
0.163


Reduction in research and development programme.
0.05


Cessation of Regional Boards.
0.06


Reduction in cost of pool vehicles.
0.05

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £0.448 million in the Contract Research Fund reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

John Swinney: The efficiency savings arise entirely from the securing of co-funding for research projects while obtaining 100% of the contracted outputs.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £10.6 million by Forestry Commission Scotland reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Efficiency Delivery Plans, published in April 2009, provide full details of all Scottish Government efficiency projects. The Forestry Commission Scotland efficiency target was achieved by selling those assets delivering least against the Scottish Government objectives.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £0.02 million in Animal Health and Welfare Publicity reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Richard Lochhead: The efficiency saving of £20,000 was achieved by using new methods of providing information to farmers and other stakeholders on animal health and welfare matters. Making greater use of text messaging and email reduced the cost of mailshots whilst maintaining the same level of service.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the projected outturn efficiency of £0.568 million by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh reported in the Efficiency Outturn Report for 2009-10 has been achieved.

Richard Lochhead: The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh achieved efficiency savings of £0.568 million in 2009-10 by the following sources:

  

Efficiency Saving
Value (£ million)


Levering in donations for the Gateway Visitor Centre on the back of Scottish Government (SG) capital funding.
0.096


Levering in further funding to supplement SG grant-in–aid in the form of donations.
0.085


Co-funding for research projects while obtaining 100% of the contract outputs.
0.310


Improving business processes, such as staff deployment and working practices
0.077


Total
0.568

Social Care

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of meals services for older people provided by each local authority in each year since 2007.

Shona Robison: The following table provides information on the cost of meals services for older people since 2007, broken down by local authority:

  

Local Authority
2007-08
2008-09


£000
£000


Aberdeen City
62
63


Aberdeenshire
0
0


Angus
186
121


Argyll and Bute
81
60


Clackmannanshire
74
99


Dumfries and Galloway
118
121


Dundee City
1,238
1,357


East Ayrshire
97
114


East Dunbartonshire
30
15


East Lothian
167
209


East Renfrewshire
165
39


Edinburgh, City of
71
79


Eilean Siar
74
22


Falkirk
194
202


Fife
392
454


Glasgow City
643
511


Highland
0
0


Inverclyde
150
154


Midlothian
69
88


Moray
373
184


North Ayrshire
216
215


North Lanarkshire
142
182


Orkney Islands
0
7


Perth and Kinross
202
150


Renfrewshire
215
776


Scottish Borders
70
85


Shetland Islands
216
331


South Ayrshire
383
411


South Lanarkshire
438
359


Stirling
106
92


West Dunbartonshire
177
243


West Lothian
67
111


Scotland
6,416
6,854



  Source: LFR 3 (Social Work) returns.

  Care should be taken when comparing the expenditure on meals services as there are variations across local authorities in the types of meal services provided and in the financial arrangements that are in place. There may also be inconsistencies in the data due to variation in council’s accounting procedures.

Transport

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive November 2010, how much of the investment in improving the road network in each year was spent on (a) new construction, (b) structural maintenance, (c) improvements and (d) design, build, finance and operate schemes.

Stewart Stevenson: The answer to S3W-37092 only gave details of direct capital expenditure, relating to new construction and design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) expenditure. The breakdown is as follows:

  

Description
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


(a) Capital Works/Land
86.20
109.97
117.70
5.55
142.00
137.60
130.60
237.30


(d) DBFO
25.88
28.90
29.40
29.90
35.30
34.10
46.00
7.20


Total
112.08
138.87
147.10
105.45
177.30
171.70
176.60
284.50



  Structural maintenance and improvements were not included in the figures for investments in roads, as they were not deemed to be classified as such.

Voluntary Sector

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the research, The Opportunities and Challenges of the Changing Public Services Landscape for the Third Sector in Scotland - A longitudinal Study, will be available.

John Swinney: We plan to publish the initial baseline report from the first year of the study The Changing Public Services Landscape in Scotland: Opportunities and Challenges for the Third Sector  at the end of January 2011. The final report of the study which will track the third sector's response to the changing public sector landscape over the three year period of the study, should be published toward the end of 2012/early 2013.